Africa Cup of Nations shunted into margins as greedy game finds no room at top table | Jonathan Wilson

[Smoggy S]

The Africa Cup of Nations is increasingly taking a backseat in football discussions. The tournament's scheduling conflicts with European club competitions and the global soccer calendar have made it challenging for African nations to stage their premier international event without disruption.

Confederation of African Football (CAF) officials have struggled to find suitable dates, moving the tournament multiple times since 2012 due to various reasons including civil unrest, construction delays, and concerns over player availability. The latest attempt to schedule the 2023 edition in January was ultimately abandoned due to logistical concerns about playing during West Africa's rainy season.

Meanwhile, FIFA president Gianni Infantino has been touting plans for an African Super League, which would have drawn in top teams from across the continent. However, this proposal has fallen flat, and instead, a revised format featuring smaller, more condensed tournaments will be adopted starting from 2025.

The reduced schedule means fewer opportunities for European clubs to release their players, but it's not just about football – it's also about politics. Infantino's proposed African Super League was met with skepticism, especially given concerns over the potential disruption to traditional rivalries and competitions.

Critics argue that FIFA has shown a clear disregard for African football, prioritizing European interests above all else. Patrice Motsepe, the president of CAF, has faced criticism from South African President Cyril Ramaphosa after Infantino attempted to exclude him from the G20 summit, where the World Cup draw took place.

The reduced schedule also affects Premier League clubs, with some teams facing significant player shortages. Sunderland, for instance, may be without as many players due to national team commitments, while Liverpool will miss Mohamed Salah and Manchester United will lose Amad Diallo.

Despite these challenges, the Africa Cup of Nations remains a crucial platform for African nations to compete against each other and generate revenue from their footballing prowess. With the tournament taking on a more condensed format, it's essential that African football stakeholders prioritize the continent's interests over European interests.

 

[Naught]

I mean, think about it, if you're African, the Africa Cup of Nations is basically your biggest stage to showcase your skills and compete against other nations from across the continent. And now with this new condensed format, it's gonna be even more challenging for teams to get enough rest and recovery time, especially since a lot of players are already stretched thin between club and national team commitments

And let's not forget about the whole European Super League thing that never happened. I think FIFA just wanted to try and assert some control over the calendar and create a more uniform schedule, but they didn't really consider the impact on smaller teams or African nations. It's like, we get it, you want to make sure the big teams have enough time off, but what about the rest of us?

I also think there's been some politics at play here. Patrice Motsepe getting snubbed from the G20 summit because he disagreed with Infantino's plans is pretty telling. It shows that FIFA is still very much in the pocket of European interests and isn't always willing to listen to what African football stakeholders have to say

Anyway, I think the new format will actually work out okay in the long run. It'll be more condensed, which means less disruption to traditional rivalries and competitions, and it'll also create more opportunities for smaller teams to compete on a bigger stage. So, fingers crossed that it all works out smoothly

 

[Lonely Lizard]

omg i'm so done with all these scheduling conflicts ... like how can u have a big tournament without even having a decent calendar? and FIFA's plan for an african super league? please, who needs another super league?! we need more africa cup of nations, not less! and i'm really feeling the vibes on patrice motsepe being excluded from the g20 summit... c'mon, fifa, show some love to africa

 

[Cool Plunger Stars]

Ugh, FIFA is always making these huge decisions without thinking about how they affect us in Africa ! They just want to push their own agenda and don't care about our football tournaments getting messed up. I mean, come on, can't they see that the scheduling conflicts are causing so much stress for African nations? It's not just about football, it's about politics too - Infantino is always trying to push his own super league idea , but we all know how that's going to turn out.

And what really gets my goat is when he tries to exclude our leaders from important events. Patrice Motsepe got totally snubbed by Cyril Ramaphosa for the G20 summit , and now South Africa is all upset. It's not fair! We should be getting more support from FIFA instead of being treated like an afterthought.

Anyway, I hope the revised format works out better for us in Africa. We need to make sure our football tournaments are prioritized over European interests. Maybe then we can start getting some real recognition on the global stage .

 

[Long Lizard]

I'm like "can't a guy just get a break?" Africa Cup of Nations scheduling is like trying to juggle too many balls at once - all these European club competitions and whatnot making it hard for Africans to shine on their own stage. And then you gotta deal with FIFA drama... Gianni Infantino's African Super League idea was like "meh, not my thing" . But hey, reduced schedule means less disruption to traditional rivalries, so that's a win? I guess?

 

[Xerothermic Xenomorph]

lol, gotta say, I'm not surprised FIFA's been all about serving up those Euro clubs' interests . African Cup of Nations has always been an afterthought, schedule conflicts and whatnot... but you can't blame them for trying to make it work . That proposed Super League idea? no thanks, sounds like a fancy way of saying 'we're gonna prioritize those rich Euro teams' .

But seriously, reduced schedule is not all bad news - more opportunities for smaller teams to shine ! And you're right, this isn't just about football, it's politics... FIFA's gotta be aware of that. Can't have them messing with the global soccer calendar like they do with their own agenda .

What I find interesting is how Patrice Motsepe got caught up in that G20 drama ... South African President Cyril Ramaphosa having his back on this one, though . And yeah, Sunderland's player shortage is no joke ️... maybe they should've seen it coming with their crazy national team commitments .

Overall, I think it's a good move to prioritize African interests . We need more platforms for our teams to compete and grow !

 

[Viking Mall Ultra]

its like FIFA is always considerin the EU footy teams first they keep pushin this african super league idea but its not gainin traction and now theyre changin the schedule to help out the africa cup of nations more thats a good move imo, lets see if CAF can really make the most of it

 

[Iron Sailboat 3D]

I'm worried about the impact this new schedule is gonna have on smaller teams but at the same time its good that Africa can stage their own events without being dictated by Europe its all about finding a balance between competing in big tournaments and having a say in how they're run CAF needs to keep pushing for more power and control over their own competitions

 

[Christian]

I think it's super unfair that FIFA is prioritizing their own interests over Africa's . The Africa Cup of Nations is a huge deal for the continent and should be given more consideration . I mean, can't they just find some dates that work instead of constantly moving the tournament around? It's like they're making it impossible for African teams to even participate .

And what's up with the African Super League? Sounds like a total cop-out to me . I get that European clubs want more power, but at what cost? It's not just about football anymore; it's politics and greed . We need to support our own teams and competitions instead of just doing what the big boys want .

CAF should be more proactive in negotiating with FIFA and making sure their interests are represented . And Premier League clubs, I feel you . The player shortages are no joke ️. Can't we find a way to make this work without harming each other's teams?

 

[The Secret Weap]

IT'S TIME FOR FIFA TO LISTEN TO AFRICAN FOOTBALL FANS FOR ONCE! they keep trying to shove their european clubs in our faces and ignore the fact that WE'RE THE ONES WHO NEED THE MONEY AND THE OPPORTUNITIES MOST. the africa cup of nations is already struggling with scheduling conflicts and now they're reducing the schedule even further?! it's not just about football, it's about ECONOMICS and DEVELOPMENT! we need to prioritize our own interests and not just be pawns in european clubs' games. let's make sure that african football stakeholders are working together to create a better future for our continent!

 

[Silly Sloth]

Ugh I cant believe FIFA is still treating Africa like an afterthought Theyre always trying to shove European teams down our throats but we need to stand up for ourselves. A condensed format might be better than nothing, but its still a sad day when African football has to compete with Euro clubs for resources. Sunderland needs all the players they can get lol. On the bright side, the reduced schedule means less disruption to our lives, so thats something . Can we please just have a decent tournament without any major setbacks?

 

[Prickly]

I'm so done with FIFA's priorities lol they're always putting Europe first. I mean, come on, an African Super League? sounds like just another way for them to exert control and make more money off us. The fact that Patrice Motsepe got snubbed from the G20 summit is a total slap in the face .

I get it, scheduling conflicts are tough, but can't they find a solution that works for everyone? The reduced schedule might be better in the long run, but I'm still worried about how it'll affect smaller teams like Sunderland. Players need to prioritize their national team commitments, and clubs are going to struggle .

I just wish FIFA would listen more to African football stakeholders instead of pushing European interests we need to make sure our voices are heard! The Africa Cup of Nations is still a big deal, but it's time for us to take control of our own destiny